Letter to the Editor: Candidates were not ranked in sheriff selection process

Dear Editor,

In response to the article last week (April 9, 2026) about the interim sheriff, I would like to address Commissioner Deb Craft’s statement that the Republican Party Central Committee “ranked submissions in order of their preference for the position” of sheriff.

The Wyoming state statutes mentioned may not allow for ranked submissions, and neither is there any prohibition for them. But the names were submitted in order of who got the most votes. It was in no way meant as recommendation for the commissioners to choose, nor meant to influence their decision. It was just how the names were submitted. As a committee, we all understood this and surmised the commissioners would, as well.

Also, I would like to add that our committee had no idea how many candidates we would be interviewing, as Chairwoman Hall closed submissions the evening before our meeting. In the past, when these instances have occurred, and we have had more than the three candidates to interview and choose from, after the committee conducts interviews, we do vote on the candidates in order to choose the top three names to send to the commissioners. There is no prohibition in statue concerning this, either. 

The committee did do its statutory obligation by sending three candidates’ names to the commissioners for consideration, without error.

Rox Anne Brewer

Vice Chairwoman

Big Horn County Republican Party